Page 151 of Carmichael's Omega

Before my female can reply, the Beta darts past us. I flip around, shoving my mates behind my back, only to see thatmi padrehas attacked the Beta while my back was turned.

"No, Carmichael, please!" Mattie catches my arm as I step towards the two males. Cassidy grabs my other arm, and I am halted only because I can't hurt them accidentally.

The Beta is attacking in a fluid motion that is nearly impossible. He makes it look as natural as breathing.

"Trust my brother," Devel approaches me cautiously.

"It is my kill," I respond angrily.

Devel shakes his head at me sadly.

"He said that he wanted Teague to kill him, not you. He doesn't understand," Cassidy says sadly.

I look at her sharply.Mi padrediscussed this with my female? When? What else did he do to my mate?

Mi padrescreams suddenly. A crack splits the air. I look over to see him stagger, his right femur broken, the bone exposed, jutting through the skin. His left arm is broken in more than one place, and it looks as though his right shoulder is dislocated. The Beta has effectively disabled him.

I stiffen my spine, ready to watchmi padre'slife end when the Beta steps back.

In a voice that carries to every watcher, he mocksmi padre."You really thought I'd kill you that easy? I'm not some young out-of-control dumbass. You wanted a quick death? Ain't happening,alpha," he sneers.Mi padrelooks at him in shock and dismay, but the Beta isn't finished. "You're gonna live out the rest of your natural life in a fucking cage smaller than the one you locked your mate and pups into."

The Beta turns his back on mi padre in a blatant display of disrespect and walks to me with a macabre smile. I meet his serious gaze with a question in my own.

"If you kill him," the Beta explains in a low voice, "then your ma dies. She's an omega, Marked and Claimed by an alpha, Punk."

My heart sinks. I look at Devel, and the male nods at me sadly. "You are sure of this?" I whisper.

"It is in the traditional tales," Devel replies.

"Yeah," the Beta's eyes flash angrily. "Just another reason to take real good care of my pups, Punk."

"There's another reason why you can't kill him, sweetheart," my female touches my cheek gently. I feel sorrow and dread well up and spill over in her and instinctively grasp her harder to my chest.

"What is it,Conejita?"

My female takes a deep breath as if to shore up her courage. "Your sister... she told me that you have a brother, Bembe. He's missing, and only your father knows where he was sent."

I practically drag my mates back inside the house, to the dining room wheremi mamitasits, her back straight as a pin, her pups gathered on her lap.

For the second time today, I fall to my knees in front of her. "Mamita," I beg in a hoarse voice, "do I have a brother, Bembe? Do you know where he is,Mama?"

She shakes her head frantically, tears spilling over down her cheeks.

"No, I have no brother? Or no, you don't know where he is?" my voice is harsh, too harsh. I feel my mates pet me, stroking my back, my arms, their tiny omega wolves nosing my alpha-wolf as they desperately try to take my pain on their slim shoulders.

Mamitaholds up two shaking fingers, and I suck in a deep breath. "I'll find him," I promise her.

Shaking, I stand and walk away, pulling my mates to me and burying my face in their hair to hide my tears. I sob, trying to keep quiet, trying to stay still, but everyone knows.

When my tears run out, I lift my head and meet Nico's dark eyes.Mi hermanolooks like he’s been beaten; flesh, mind, and soul, and I know I look much the same.

"Go comfortmi familia, sí?" I gently push my reluctant little omegas toward Nico and Mama.

The Beta is standing outside the dining room, arms folded over his chest. Other males walk around with my pack. They are patrolling, and I am thankful.

"Your father is locked away," he says quietly.

"I have to question him," I rasp out. "Mi hermano..." I shake my head, my alpha-wolf howling for his lost sibling. "This is in me," I say it, my shame. I hurl the words at the Beta as if they are poisoned blades meant to boomerang back on me. "I have this in my blood,sí?I feel it, the urge to shut my omegas away, to hide them from the pack, the world."

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